Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-01-28
TENNYsoN's EARLY LOVE.
The Original OF "sTaud" and the Hero
Inc OF 'Tocksley HALL"

Inc OF 'Locksley Hail."
Those who are familiar with the story
Of Alfred Tennyson's life (the new name
does not suit him SO well as the old) viii
smile on reading his latest work, Locks
spirit of self deception which runs
throughout the verses. To the world
maud" and ssLocksley Hail. are beau
hful poems only. A few know that they
are something more than poems of the
imagination-the are heart records. In
the sequel to ssLocksley Hall, - Just pub
lished, the poet tells his grandson that he
could never have loved a wording like
Judith, who has played such sad havoc
with the susceptible youths feelings, but
this is precisely what he did. When Al
fred Tennyson was a promising young
poet crowned with Oxford's academic
laurels, he wooed his first cousin, the
story of which wooing he afterwards
wove into beautiful verse and gave to the
world. Another suitor, the wealthy heir
to the earldom of Boyne, however, ap-
peared on the scene and the fair Amy,
afterwards so literally adiectived as
'sfalse and servile, became q peeress.
Lord Boyne, who is the owner of large
estates and valuable coal mines in the
county of Durham, the heart of the
northern coal fields of England, freely
extended his hospitality to his brides
cousin at Brancepeth castle, modern
but imposing mansion. The poet repaid
the kindness by satirizing the good
natured peer, his brand new title and his
recently acquired wealth most mercilessly
in s'Maud' and "Locksley Hail. y In
dependent of his wife's very natural in-
dignation, Lord Boyne was not gratifed
to find his beautiful home described by a
recent guest as ''gewgaw" castle, or at
having the world informed in verse, how
ever harmonious, that his wealth had
come from the sweat of miners; neither
did he enjoy the thought that the tongues
Of the world were wagging over the
story of his money having bought him a
wife who preferred another lover. 1t is
possible, too, he failed to see the beauty
of those ReInbrandt-like touches wherein
he is described as a clown and drunken.
It might be beautiful poetry, the out
ragged host urged, but it was not good
taste, and it was not true. His lordship
is certainly one of the most common
place anu uLilnbeISStlIB OA pt6IS OF OL
commoners, but he is neither coarse nor
drunken, and Brancepeth castle with its
shivering larches knew Tennyson no
more.
Mr. Tennyson's wounds healed like
those of many another lovesicl1 swain
whose limited faculty of expression could
not lead him into such betrayal of the
Lares and Penates; but popular as he is
as poet, he has never gone to the hearts
of the English people. In his early days
he was radical to the core, and his verses
overhowed with the best instincts Of hui
manity. Time has brought him wealth
and he has accepted peerage, from
which it is safe to assume that he no
longer feels that contempt for new titles
which he did in the days when he lam
pooned his successful rival. In reading
his latest production one is reminded of
a famous mot, applied by wit to an
overpraised nobleman: II heard you
were lord among wits, but / find you
are only wit among lords" Alfred
Tennyson was once lord among poets:
his new volume has proved him merely
poet among lords.-New York World.